Articles

A message from BMAA President Paul White

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” – Henry Ford. Being a part of something greater then ourselves is a God given privilege a?orded to the local church through being a part of an association. Attendance at local, state and national association meetings should be driven by a need-to attend (Proverbs 11:14) rather than a want-to attend mentality.

Like the strands of a rope that give it it’s strength, (Ecclesiastes 4:12) likewise, every church’s participation in our
association increases her strength and ability to fulfill the great commission. Everything is in place and in a few days, we will be converging on the city of Jackson, Mississippi for a time of Praise and Worship intermingled with our associations business.

From the God and Country Rally Monday night, annual message Tuesday night, through the call to the BMAA choir Wednesday
afternoon and the commissioning service on Wednesday night this year’s meeting will surely be one to remember.The following services will be available on live stream on bmalife.com/tv. Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Wednesday afternoon during the BMAA Choir and Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony.

This year I will be ending my term as your President. I want to thank you for having allowed me this honor and privilege to serve.

I have been given the honor and privilege of leading the worship this year at the BMAA meeting in Jackson, Miss. On Wednesday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m., we are going to be forming a BMAA choir, and that is where I will need your help!

Anyone and everyone is welcome to come and sing at this time. Please spread the word to everyone you can think of who
might be interested in singing with us. I have chosen four songs — Standing On The Promises, How Great Is Our God, What A Day That Will Be and Chain Breaker. A copy of the words to all the songs will be distributed as the choir goes on stage at the meeting.

I’m sure everyone is very familiar with the first three songs. The only “new” song is Chain Breaker, and it can be heard at youtube (or Google Chain Breaker by Zach Williams). I chose to end with this song because that is the message and testimony we can all declare together in Christ. Once we were all bound by chains of sin, but as believers we have experienced true freedom in Christ!

Jackson, Mississippi Convention Center
BMAA Annual Meeting
Monday Evening
April 16, 7:00 p.m.

A Special Welcome to all our churches, pastors, Christian workers, and messengers to be a part of this special American event! Your presence will declare our need to pray for and rejoice in our great nation, the United States of America.
Dr. John M. Adams,
Executive Director Moral Action

By providing the most up-to-date information, your church helps BMA America connect, build relationships and understand the impact BMA churches are making through their local communities with the gospel. Please choose one of the following options to provide BMA America with the most accurate information for your church. What Can My Church Do?
1. Visit bmaamerica.org to view and edit your church information. Once on the web site, select the “BMA Churches” tab listed at the top, then click on “BMA Church Log In.”
2. Fill out the pre-populated survey you received in the mail and mail to:
BMA America
PO Box 1188
Conway, AR 72033
3. Request an e-mail or paper copy of the survey by contacting Lauren Noland in the Information Services department at 501-358-4007 or lauren@bmaamerica.org Remember, the deadline is MARCH 31, 2018!

First, we want to say “Thank You” to everyone who helped make the Student ALIVE Conference possible. It is a life changing experience that couldn’t go on without the help of many leaders in our churches. We would also like to say a special “Thank
You” to our speaker, Donny Parish. Donny captured our attention this year and brought us several messages on being transformed. Romans 12:1-2 was the focus of the messages during our weekend stay.

Over the course of four sessions, Donny dug into what Romans 12:1-2 says about our relationship with God and how we can become more like Him. Thursday night, Donny introduced being transformed, that it only comes when we recognized the “mercy of God” — Jesus’ death on Calvary. Accepting God’s mercy is the first step to becoming transformed.

Friday morning, Donny addressed what it means to be a living sacrifice. After accepting God’s mercy, we must become a living sacrifice so God can work through us. Being a living sacrifice entails living a life of mercy, bringing your body (everything you are), and making the choice to stay on the altar and not get off. When we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, God can then transform us by the renewing of our minds.

Friday evening, Donny unfolded what it means to be renewed and why we should not conform to this world. By not conforming, we are able to open our minds to what transformations may come and to the renewal that is necessary. To be renewed, a person must pray for renewal, study God’s Word, and become a disciple of Jesus. When our minds are renewed, we can clear the clutter the world brings and focus on our Creator and the life God has for us. When all these things are applied to one’s life, we can prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Saturday morning, Donny wrapped up the weekend by showing us when we are transformed, we will become more like God and show the fruits of His glory. The theme of ALIVE Student Conference was to not arrive transformed but to continue becoming transformed. On top of our four sessions with Donny, we had a small special session with him where we learned about LifeWord and what they do for people around the world. Many of us were challenged to take a leap of faith and join a mission group for over the summer. It sparked many conversations and helped us understand the need for the Gospel and how God’s people are spreading the Word.

Other than the sessions we attended, we were able to go to the Rec Plex and participate in a plethora of activities. There was ice skating, broom hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming, and a lounge area where anyone could sit and play card games. It was a great time and we all had a blast getting rid of excess energy. We were also able to go to West County Mall where we shopped and ate as many samples in the food court as we could.

Late Friday evening, we were entertained by illusionist, Jared Hall.

He did an outstanding job getting us to laugh and be amazed at his talent. A big take away from this conference is the process of being transformed. Donny said being transformed is not reaching the top of the mountain but is the climb up it. It is easy to get caught up with busy schedules and things in today’s society, but the goal is to continue to be a living sacrifice and do our best for God. When we transform, we show God’s light to the world and become more like Him.

We thank everyone again for making ALIVE Student Conference 2017 happen and can’t wait for next year!

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Article by Bethel High School Seniors Rachel Licklider & Mandy Dulworth
Pictures by Bethel High School Students Hannah Folk & Rachel Rayfeld

By the late Vi Maclin
1. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…” Mark 12:30
2. “…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Mark 12:31
3. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
4, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
5. “Neglect not the gift that is in you.” I Timothy 4:14a
6. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him is store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” I Corinthians 16:2
7. “Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17
8. “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18
9. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22
10. “Add to you faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 2 Peter 1:5-7.
11. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
12. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
13. “Here am I; send me…” Isaiah 6:8
14.”Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end.” Ephesians 3:21
15. “Therefore by ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matthew 24:44

Luke 2:1-20
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their ?ock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even
unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Merry Christmas from your Editor and His Wife

October 28, 2017 • 9:00 a.m.
Camp Garwood
by Don Burke, Clerk • James Ho?mann, Editor

Fifty-nine messengers (plus several visitors) representing 30 churches met at Camp Garwood for the 90th annual meeting
of the Missouri State Association.
Following the morning devotional from John 17:17 by Leonard Knight, Association President Dale Fish called the Association to order.
Two guests, Philip Attebery representing the BMAA Seminary and Terry Kimbrow representing Central Baptist College, shared
with the body the ministry and needs of their respective schools. The Association voted to send $1,000 from the Missions Fund to each of these. Newly Elected Committeemen
• Alive Committee: Brian Buckley (term ending 2019), Kevin Smith (2020), and Brian Kingston (2021);
• Publication Committee: Ray Thurman (2019), Don Burke (2020);
• Camp Committee: Brian Whitlock (2022);
• Special Missions Committee: Russell Chitwood (2024).
Highlights of Committee Reports
• Alive Committee – announced that this year’s conference is scheduled for December 28-30, 2017 and
will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Chesterfeld.

More information can be found on the Alive Conference page along with instructions about how to register. Registrations must be done by December 1st to get the good rate that the hotel offers.
• Publications Committee – Editor Jim Hoffmann expressed thankfulness for having a good year financially which made it
possible to end the year with a positive balance without having to ask for special offerings.
• BMA Loan Association – Director Dennis Baker reported that we were able to help Emmanuel Baptist Church with a Grant which enabled them to replace heating and air-conditioning units that were needing replaced. Emmanuel’s pastor, Jason Reddin noted that the church was extremely thankful for the help and had already started giving offerings to this fund to show their appreciation.
He mentioned that the need was more critical that first imagined as they found that carbon monoxide was entering their building because of the faulty equipment. Thank God, we had the funds available to help.
• Brotherhood and WMA Reports, indicated that these auxiliaries are doing a great service to the Lord’s work in strengthening the fellowship and outreach of our churches.
Sis. Juanita May reported another successful WMA Retreat with good lessons and fellowship along with an auction that raised more funds for Camp Garwood. Bro. Dennis Baker reported that the Men’s Retreats have continued to bring our men and boys together at Camp Garwood with devotionals, fellowship, and activities that strengthen the relationship in our churches.
• Camp Garwood Report – Direct Chris Polk presented an encouraging report on the 2017 Camp and Retreats. A new dorm was finished and put into use this year and plans are to build a workshop/storage building on the old house site at camp which will allow us to make a more permanent dorm out of the area that has been used as storage and an extra dorm when
needed. We are thankful for all the souls that have been saved at Camp Garwood. (See Bro. Chris’ article on Page 5.)

Ben Kingston gave the annual sermon, taken from Proverbs 2:1-12. His admonitions centered upon “A Search for Wisdom.”
(See notes gleaned from his message on page 5.) Bro. Wayne Gibson expressed our appreciation to Bro. Leonard Knight and Bro. Ben Kingston for the devotional and message. A wonderful noon meal was prepared by the Rockin’ Mobile Café, operated by Dave and Lisa Payne.

After the noon break, the body reconvened for the Missionary Committee meeting. The Special Missions Committee presented
the following recommendations:
1. Bro. James Ho?mann stand as nominee for Missions Director.
2. That Director’s Salary be commensurate with duties asked, to be set by our Advisory committee. (Note: Later the Advisory
Committee set the Director’s Salary at $600 a month.)
3. Bro. Don Burke Stand as nominee for Assistant Missions Director.
4. That we give 1 month’s salary for Christmas Bonus to our Missions Director.
5. That we designate ½ of the Mission Director’s salary as housing allowance.
6. That we continue Revitalization Conferences with Bro. Ben Kingston as Director.
7. That we send $5,000 to BMA Missions Department for aid in Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
8. That we pay up to $2,500 to Abundant Life in Christ Church in Charleston for upgrading their parking as they continue to fnish their new building.

After some discussion the recommendations were approved by the Missions Committee, and then later ratified by the full Association body. Dale Fish and Claude Evans were reelected Association President and Vice President (respectively). The President reappointed the same brethren to serve on the Enrollment Committee (Russell Chitwood, Leonard Knight, Brad Banderman) and Resolutions Committee (David Griggs, Chris Polk, Tom Foster, Jr.) for the coming year.

The Association will meet on May 18 – 19, 2018 at Zion (St. Louis) for the Missions Symposium and Mid-Year Business
Meeting. The 2018 Annual Association will meet October 27, 2018 at Bethel (Lonedell).

We are also thankful for the increased attendance this year and for the sweet Spirit of fellowship!